Excerpt from, The Wedding Soup Murder, courtesy of the author's website.Synopsis:Victoria Rienzi came home to the Jersey Shore to write a new book, learn the family restaurant business, and practice the fine art of Italian cooking. But when delicious dishes are paired with murder, Vic has a little too much on her plate…When Vic asked her nonna for more responsibility in the kitchen, she didn’t mean forming a thousand tiny meatballs by hand for the family’s famous wedding soup. The dish is to be served at the reception for a close family friend at the exclusive Belmont Country Club. And once there Vic has to deal with a demanding bridezilla and clashes in the kitchen—between the staff and servers, between two egocentric head chefs, and between the country club president and…well…everyone.The wedding comes off without a hitch—until the body of the club’s president is found on the beach below a high seawall. Now Vic will need to use her noodle to find out who pushed whom too far…before she’s the one who lands in the soup!Thoughts:The Wedding Soup Murder is the second book in Rosie Genova's Italian Kitchen mystery series, featuring a sassy, Jersey Shore heroine, a captivating Italian-American family and more bodies than they know what to do with. Genova's books are filled with tasty Italian treats and plenty of family drama to balance out each whodunit. Readers who are looking for a mystery that will tantalize the palette, as well as, energize the mind, will love this one!What I liked:Victoria has returned home to the Jersey Shore to write a new book. But she isn't looking to write the next great mystery. She wants to learn to cook. And be a part of the family business for a little while as she looks for inspiration, but what she finds is a whole lot of sleuthing going on. I love Genova's heroine for this series. Vic is spontaneous and over the top. She has sass and spunk and all those things every young Italian woman should possess. Her interactions with her family, especially her nonna are fun and full of surprises. Her former ex working right along side her also gives another dimension to the story. Genova has created a great heroine that readers will want more and more of. When Vic and family are set to cater a wedding reception at the local country club, the fun begins. I loved the behind the scenes tidbits about catering and actually making Italian Wedding Soup, now I want to go to an authentic Italian restaurant and try it. When a story makes you want to go beyond the book, you know it was a good one! I had a great time being a fly on the wall with all of the chef personalities and eccentricities flying. It made for a great atmosphere for a mystery. Lots of great suspects including a friend of Vic's family, Dr. Chickie. It was up to Vic to prove him innocent. Genova does a great job of balancing the mystery against the family dynamic of this great Italian-American family. I found myself not only trying to solve the mystery that was currently going on, but wanting to figure out a way to get Vic back together with her ex and even solving the problems between her brother Danny and his wife, who happens to be Vic's partner in crime, so to speak. This book is as much about family, as it is about murder and that made all the difference. Genova is definitely on the right track with this series.

Bottom Line:This mystery had all the right elements to make it great. The mystery of what happened to the country club president, was well thought out. It had plenty of suspects and the clues, while easy to follow, did not make the killer obvious. The Rienzi family was a pleasure to read about. Getting to know them was just as fun figuring out the whodunit. Great balance, a fantastic heroine and one over the top Italian family. Great addition to the series.The Wedding Soup Murder is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

A Jersey girl born and bred, Rosie Genova left her heart at the shore, which serves as the setting for the Italian Kitchen Mysteries. An English teacher by day and novelist by night, Rosie also writes women’s fiction as Rosemary DiBattista. She lives in central New Jersey with her husband and her two younger sons. She is the author of Murder and Marinara.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of The Wedding Soup Murder by Rosie Genova.~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.~ US addresses only.~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, September 22nd.1. Please leave a comment about one of your favorite Italian dishes to make or eat out. 2. Please fill out the FORM.

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